Hiking in the jungle is TIRING !

**WillBrink** · 09-05-14, 12:57

I spent all day hiking in the jungle in Panama in the El Valle area, which is beautiful area around an extinct volcano. I'm in good condition, but no hiking/rucking beast by any means. Got drenched in heavy rain* several times. Between the heat, the unstable/uneven/slippery landscape (which does not allow your brain to rest for a second), and being wet, and carrying a light pack (maybe 20-25lbs), I was beat down like I have rarely experienced after 5 hours of that. I even stopped and swam under a water fall. Was f-ing awesome and amazing. I didn't feel tired while in the jungle, but once I walked out, it hit my like a ton of bricks had just been added to my pack and the 20 min walk back to the little hostile quite challenging. I almost stopped and took a nap by the side of the road I was do damn tired, but more rain was coming so I kept moving.

Did my best to stay hydrated of course, but at some point sweat exceeds your ability to replace it and I'd say I hit that point around hour 3-4. I never got lost, but had compass, two form of communication** and a basic map in case I did. It's not the deepest jungle that exists in Panama, but were one get lost, you'd be very sorry and it could take you a few days or more to get out. Break an ankle, etc, bad mojo. There's no med flight, etc coming to get you....There are snakes and other biters, but I didn't see any but for one small snake who had no interest in me. There are even big cats in the jungles of Panama, but they are rare and generally have no interest in humans. I admit, would have been really cool to see a few paw prints in the mud or something.

Yes, I wish I had am M4 slung over my shoulder, and yes, at times I had visions of being in Borneo during WWII and such*, but a jungle fighter I am not. Still, even the hint of it and the conditions faced by those who did, left me on awe.

The US mil used to do jungle training in Panama (I cans see why now!) when there was a big US mil presence in Panama, not sure if that's still done today with SOF and such. Anyone do their jungle training in Panama? Some info I found:

http://www.junglefighter.panamanow.net/

If not Panama, what are major jungle training centers for US mil?

Didn't bring cable for my camera so will be a while until i can upload some pics.

* = and I mean heavy as only a tropical jungle can produce

** = cell phone with international plan and another with local plan, stopping occasionally to check bearings and or make sure I had some signal

*** = with the thought of something like "I can't believe those poor SOBs stayed in places like this for weeks on end and had to fight in it" etc.

**markm** · 09-05-14, 13:10

You forgot to sing Creedence...

Makes jungle operations much easier.

**WillBrink** · 09-05-14, 13:14

Originally Posted by markm

You forgot to sing Creedence...

Makes jungle operations much easier.

Next time! Any other jungle survival tips?

**markm** · 09-05-14, 13:20

I'm picturing Lt Dan... "Keep your feet dry, and don't do anything stupid"

**GTF425** · 09-05-14, 13:35

25th ID runs a Jungle Expert School in Hawaii. As far as I know, it's currently only open to personnel assigned to the 25th at Schofield, unsure if it's open to the GPF yet. We've been deploying SOF in the Philippines for...a hot minute. I'm also sure that the men in 1st and 7th Group regularly train in the jungle, but that's their business.

Never been in the jungle myself, and not particularly wanting to. I've heard enough stories about Vietnam from my grandfather to know that it sucks.

**WillBrink** · 09-05-14, 13:45

Originally Posted by markm

I'm picturing Lt Dan... "Keep your feet dry, and don't do anything stupid"

I was unable to follow that one. But, it was only a day, so low chance of bad things happening, like jungle rot, etc. I tell you, I have no idea how you'd really be able to keep your feet dry in such a place, even by sweat alone. Water proof boots would of course trap moister inside, so seems lose lose. I can see of course keeping some dry socks in a water proof bag and such to help, but keeping feet dry sounds damn near impossible from my limited experience. Hiking shoes I was wearing were Gortex protected, but that only delayed feet getting wet at best.

**WillBrink** · 09-05-14, 13:51

Originally Posted by GTF425

25th ID runs a Jungle Expert School in Hawaii. As far as I know, it's currently only open to personnel assigned to the 25th at Schofield, unsure if it's open to the GPF yet. We've been deploying SOF in the Philippines for...a hot minute. I'm also sure that the men in 1st and 7th Group regularly train in the jungle, but that's their business.

Never been in the jungle myself, and not particularly wanting to. I've heard enough stories about Vietnam from my grandfather to know that it sucks.

If you're in there for days or weeks, there's traps set, and people waiting to catch you in an abush and do very bad things to you, that's suck squared no doubt. I did have to fight a creepy crawly on my leg, but he was no match for my fixed blade

On a more serious note, a place you would not want go hiking in the jungle in Panama is on the Panama Columbia border. That's an area where you'd best be armed and best know what you're doing and best not be alone. There's some serious folk working in that area both good guys and bad. Rumor has it we may have an "adviser" or two on their some place, but is only rumor...

**montanadave** · 09-05-14, 14:07

I think you're ready to submit your application for Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid.

Although, admittedly, I have no desire to see you naked.

**Doc Safari** · 09-05-14, 14:28

Originally Posted by WillBrink

Next time! Any other jungle survival tips?

A serious one: one of my college profs was a real world traveler and anthropologist.

His advice: "If you're lost in the jungle, watch the monkeys. Whatever they eat, you can eat."